Jewelry



C. G. SMITH.

JEWELRY.

APPLICATION FILED Auazz. 1919.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

VVitne ss Inventar uuu.; Cynwk, Q ,V A VMM avumf State of vments in jewelry and more particularl?1 1 UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

'ennuis e. suma, or aannames, unssncnusn'r'rs.

' To alltvhom timay concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambrid e, in the county of Middlesex and assachusetts, 'have invented certainl new and useful Im rovements in Jewelry; and I do hereby eclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The resent invention relates to improveto improvements in the natural and arti ial gems employed in connection with jewelry.

It is one object ofthe present invention to improve and beautify oth natural and artificial gems in such a manner that they shall lbe yvisible in darkness as well as in light. A further object of the invention. is -to-improve certain natural gems inAsuch a manner that the natural beauty arising from the character' and composition of the gem is reatly enhanced.

Vith these objects in view, the featlresA of the invention consist in the embodiment in both natural and artificial gems of cer tain radioactive substances which cooperate with the gem in a manner to greatly enhance the natural beauty of the gem by daylight and at the same time render-the gem lumi- 'nous and clearly visible in the dark.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention Fi re 1 represents either a natural or an arti cial gem having a luminous radioactive substance embodied therein; Fig.v 2 represents a gem showing an alternative method of embodying the radioactive substance therein; Fig. 3 illustrates an artificial 'gem of bakelite or similar material having small particlesV of radioactive substance embedded throughout; and

Fig. 4 represents a naturally luminous gem which cooperates with a radioactive material positioned at the base.

The present invention utilizes in a new manner certain properties of radioactive substances by which the energy constantly thrown oft` may be converted into light. According to one form of the invention, a radioactive material is 'combined y with -a hosphorescent material to produce a selfuminous paint which embodied in a crystal illumines and makes it readily visible in the dark. According rto another form of the invention the radioactive material is emspeomaon gf man rama.

`App`lioatio n led Augult 22, 1919. rial N0. $191,280.

bodied in'a form of crystal-whichis naturally p'hosphorcscent so that energy given offV by the radioactive material in cooperation with the natural'A -structure'of the cr stal renders the crystal luminous and visib e in `"the dark.

a- In -the form of the invention shown in F1g.;,1, a radioactive substance is combined with a phosphorescent substance to produce a luminous paint which is applied to the crystal in lsuch a manner as torender it luminous and clearly visible as to the 'entire configuration in the dark. In order to secure this result without interferin with the natural beauty of the crystal in t e daylight, the crystal indicated at 10 is conveniently provided with a-series of recesses 11 formed therein which may be produced by drilling or otherwise and vary in number as well as direction. These recesses are coated with "the self-luminous paint, illuminating the crystal in the dark, but at'the same tiine, permitting light to enter at the base ofthe crystal to illuminate the crystal in daylight. In this form of the invention the-crystal may be either artificial or natural and in this connection it is found that the formation of the crystal of 'glass with a colloidal agent' held in suspenslon produces an extremel. beautiful effect after dark as the colloidal agent enhances the visibility of the light rays as they pass `through the/ crystal. One form of this colloidal agent which may preferably be employed is the use of gold in vfinel 4.divided particles held in suspension in g ass.

Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative and highly desirable form of the invention which consists in the embodiment within a crystal 15 of a transparent hermetically sealed tube containing a particle of radioactive material under high pressure. As shown in the drawing, the tube 16 consists of a thick glass casing in which is suspended a small particle 17 of radioactive material. This tube contains either air, h drogen or some otheras underv a relative hi h pressure, for example, approximate y l'fifty atmos- Shares; This gas is made luminous by the ischar e of energy from the radioactive f materia and as this luminosity is far greater than that produced by the combination of a lradioactive material with the phosvphorescent material the efficiency .of the device from a standpoint ofvillumination is fairly high." The jewel may be made a va-l i Ariety of colors by a roper choice of the gas which is emplo e within the hermetically sealed tube, or example, the hydro,

n gas when employed gives oil red rays.

further advanta e of this construction is that residing in tie fact that the life of the radioactive material is practically indefinite and in consequence the permanency of the jewel is not limited by the character of the phosphorescent substance as is necessaril the case where a luminous aint is depen ed upon to give the desired il umination. Fig. 3 illustrates a slightly modified form of jewel in' which a molded gem of clear lbalirelite or similar substance has embedded therein a number of particles of luminous paint. j Y

Fig. 4 represents a form 'o f the invention in which a natural crystal having phosphorescent properties as a ruby or diamond is provided with a radioactive substance mountedin the base as indicated. This radioactive substance .may be attached directly to the base of the jewel or held at Lslight distance therefrom by a Suitable frame as indicated at 20. With this form of jewel the radioactive substance coperates with the natural structure of the crystal to make the latter luminous and cause it to emit light rays in the dark.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement .of-parts .features of the invention.

The invention having been described, what is claimedis:

1. A jewel comprising a transparent crystal havlng a polished top surface to reflect light rays, a gas filled recess entering the body of the crystal adjacent the base, and

a radioactive substance located within the' recess and servin to render the 'crystal luminous in the ark without interfering with its pro rties, in the light.

2. A jewe comprising a transparent crystal having a polished top surface to reliect light rays, a recess' entering the body of the crystal adjacent the base, and a transparent hermetica ly sealed tube located within the recess andv containing` a radioactive substance suspended in gas under a high pressure.

.3. A ewel comprising a transparent crystal having a polished top surface to reflect light rays, a recess entering the body of the crystal adjacent the base, and a transparent hermetically sealed tube located within the recess and 'containing a small particle of radium suspendedinhydrogen under a high pressure.

a CHARLES G. SMITH. 

